May 23, 2018

Charming Handicrafts: Beaded Bags from the 1900s

In the last few posts we have been focusing on modernism in design and also mentioned the Wiener Werkstätte - let's combine today these two themes through an example of modernist handicraft designed at the Wiener Werkstätte by Maria Likarz-Strauss. One of the leading female designers of the Wiener Werkstätte, Maria Likarz-Strauss (1893-1971) worked there first from 1912 to 1914 and later from 1920.

Likarz-Strauss studied in Vienna at the Kunstgewerbeschule and designed postcards, advertisements, posters, wrapping papers, stationery and marble paper. Later on in her career she focused on working with ceramic, enamel and glass, embroidery and lace.

This U-shaped drawstring purse (from the collection of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Australia), made from tiny orange glass beads and lined in kid leather, features an abstract pattern of circles in black and white beads that perfectly embodies the principles of the Wiener Werkstätte (think geometric patterning, simple lines and strong colours).

If this style does not suit you, check out this pouch-shaped beaded bag from 1900-1940 (same collection as the previous one) featuring a triangular flap covered in floral designs in shades of greens, blues, blacks, pinks and purple at the centre and geometric designs in yellow, mauve, green and grey beads around the edges.